July 23, 2008

Dear Representative:

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action urges you to oppose H.R. 6532, which would transfer $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).   We understand that H.R. 6532 may be considered under suspension of the rules, limiting amendments and meaningful debate. The suspension calendar was meant to accelerate passage of minor, non-controversial legislation. Raiding the Treasury for billions of dollars to backfill the shortage in the HTF will set an expensive precedent that is clearly not minor and should be controversial.

When SAFETEA-LU passed in 2005, our organization and others expressed concern that the current transportation bill would outstrip the incoming gasoline taxes before the bill expired in 2009.  Congress chose to ignore the obvious fiscal realities and now seems poised to penalize the nation’s taxpayers for that congressional inaction.  This will be a hard pill for taxpayers to swallow, since the highway bill was chock full of more than $24 billion worth of earmarks that could have been pared down to make up the current shortfall.

The nation faces enormous budget deficits and an uncertain economic future. It is imperative that Congress not raid the Treasury to make the HTF solvent.  Again, we strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 6532. If you would like to discuss this further please contact me or Erich Zimmermann at 202-546-8500.

Sincerely,

Steve Ellis
Vice President of Programs